Differential assembly gear flange indicating and correcting device



Oct. 10, 1933. c w YQUNT 1,929,800

DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY GEAR FLANGE INDICATING AND CORRECTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 3, 1951 3 Sheets-Sheet l [/1 van for, C/zar/es W yoqni',

ym map-,1

Afro/ways.

Oct. 10, 1933. c w YQUNT DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY GEAR FLANGE LNDICATING AND CORRECTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 3, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 2 fnvemor,

Char/ea W You/Li,

Oct. 10, 1933. c w. YQUNT 1,929,800

DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY GEAR FLANGE INDICATI NG AND CORRECTING DEVICE Filed Dec. 3, 1931 3 Sheets-Sheet 3 m a) m frlveni'or, Char/ea W You/1t mm m ,4 zfomaya.

Patented Oct. 10, 1933 n I 1,929,800 1 DIFFERENTIAL ASSEMBLY "GEAR Q INDICATING 'ANDVVCORRECTIING DEVICE.

' CharIes WLYount, Indianapolis, Ind, w I Application December 3 1931. 'Serial d V 14 Claims.

This invention relates to a device for "dc- 'termining the variations from, a normal plane of a ring gear flange on-a rear axle differential assemblyand also for correcting such variaa 'is to provide'jmeans which will receive and's'upport the differential assembly bearings without.- having to adjust a chuck'ofr" other similar devices thereto andwhich will automatically centions} 'In the rear axle is commonly employed a differential assembly between the'wheel driving shafts and. on this difierential assembly is mounted a gear bymeans oi'rivets. A pinion gear held in mesh with this gear whereby poweris transmitted from the engine to revolve the pinion gear and in turn the gear on the differentialassembly It frequentlyhappens that one or 'moreiteeth will break on this larger or ring gear which is secured to the difierential assemblyv or insome cases a tooth will break on the pinion gearwith theresult that in any eventlone. or both of the gears is damaged to such'anextentthat they must be re-f placed; Generally when a tooth breaks on-either one'of .the gears, the gears willspre'ad apart one .fromthe other .suiiiciently to bend or distort the'fiange on the differential assembly to which the ring gear is attached; Manyiepair shops have placed .a newgear directly 'on flange' only toiindthatwhenthe assemblyzhas been returnedto the axle. the pinionand ring gears y do not properly mesh and a "decided noise arises;

The differential assembly is mounted a. unit to be carried -.-by. bearings rat either end, usually ball bearings or roller'bearing-s, and it is between these bearingsfthat the vdifferential assembly must be revolved underactual wor-k- 1 ingv conditions in thE EtX-IEOf the' automobile.

, Unless the gear attaching flange on. the difierparts in the several views in the drawings."

ential assembly has a faceagainst which; the

- gear is secured to be entirely within alplane at .right angles to the axis of rotation as deterceive and rotatably support a differential assern- V bly and its supporting bearings whereby thefasrsembly may be revolved between these-bearings exactly as it would be :under actual working conditions in the automobile. i An important object of -the'-invention is .110

provided a structure that will not only receive and hold the wd iiferentml assembly revplubly sembly to be revolvedon its true axis of rotabut o provide su ch a-structurethat will "not nec essitate the removal of the supporting bearings I carried by the differential assembly.

A further important object of-the invention ter thefb earings to permit the differential as and removedirom the assembly and which will be adapted for use in' the full range bliesfto be found in practiceif A' still'fu'rther object of the invention is to of assemprovide not only a structure as above indicated but'to incorporate therein means for truing the 4 surface to which the ring gear is to be fitted and secured without. having to ;move the assem' v blyi tof'a separate machine, and'still further to provide irneans for checking upon the plane of "theig'ea'r a'fter'jit' is-attached-to thatsurface? These and other objects and advantagesfwill become apparent inthe following description of the invention as illustrated by the accompanying drawing s 'in which Fig. 1 is'a fragmentary side elevationfoia structure 'embodying vmy invention; Fig.'2, a fragmentary topplan View and .Fig. 3; afliragmentary .leftjhand elevation;

Like. characters" of. reference indicate like I secure the supporting bracketslO and 11" on the respective ends of a length of steel'tubing 12 whereby the'tubing 12 is held by these brackets in a fixed posit'ion. Ahead standard "13 is "mounted on the tubel2 "tohave its lower' end surround and be'iixedto the tube whereby the standard will'bemaintainedin-a vertical upright "position. This standard 13"carriesa head 14 on its upper end .through :which isa horizontally disposed bore 15; An electric:.motor 1631538 cured to thejoutervsi de of the standard ,13 and has a reduction gear rfitted thereto jfroin which 1 a final drive shaft 17 extends axially fora -dis' tance into the bore 15. The. motor i6 and .its

reduction gear maybe i sy suitabletypejand 100 7 into my invention.

The inner and right-hand side of the head 14 is screwthreaded about its periphery to receive thereon the collar 18. This collar 18 has a bore through its portion adjacent the head 14 forming a continuation of the bore 15 but the outer portion of the collar 18 is counterbored conically to have the wall of the counterbore at an angle with the axis of substantially 30 degrees. A second collar 19 is provided to screwthreadedly engage with thecollar 18 and is formed to have the hole therethrough form a continuation of the counterbore in the collar 18 when the collar 19 is drawn up snugly thereagainst whereby there is no shoulder or step therebetween.

mounted about the tube 12. A key-way '21 is cut longitudinally in the outer sideof the tube 12'and a key 22 is fixed in the standard to slide along this key-way as the standard may be shifted along the tube 12. The key'22 maintains the standard 20 in a vertical upright position to prevent rotation of the standard 20 about the tube 12.

' bore 27, the axis of which bore coincides with 26 anda second collar 29 is provided to screwthreadedly engage on the left hand side of the collar28. A conical bore is provided in the collar 28 and the collar 29 is provided with a bore which is a continuation of the bore 30.

The conical bore through these two collars provides a sloping wall therearound having an angle of substantially 30 degrees. 1 r

- Between the standards 13 and 20 I place a tool holder arm 31 which has a foot 32 surrounding the tube 12 in 'sucha manner that the foot may be moved longitudinally of the tube 12 and also rotatably therearound. The foot 32 is split along one side and has ears 33 and 34 above and below the split with a clamp screw 35 passing through the ears as a means for'holding the foot 32 in a fixed position on the tube 12. The stand- .ard 20 is likewise secured at any longitudinal position along the tube 12 by meansof the clamp screw 36, Fig. 2. Y i

The numeral 41 generally designates a differential assembly of the usual type, incorporated in an automobile axle which hasa ring gear mounting flange 42' extending annularly therearound. The assembly has the usual extending trunnions 43 and 44 which. are hollow to permit the insertion therethrough of the wheel driving shafts (not shown). Bearings 45 and 46 respectively, here shown as ball bearings, are fixed by their inner races on the respective trunnions 43 and 44 and the entire differential assembly may revolve in these bearings by holding the outer races thereof stationary. The differential assemblyg41 is disassembled. from its axle with these bearings 45 and 46 in place and to remove these bearings from the assembly would mean that considerable risk is occasioned by reason of the liability of breaking some part of the bearing. Moreover it is not desirable to remove the bearings from the differential assembly since these are the bearings which actually 'support the assembly in its working position and to substitute other bearings therefor would introduce some condition affecting the axis of rota- The upper end of the standard 20 carries a head 26 through which is a horizontal tion that would be absent when the assembly is in actual use.

I leave the bearings 45 and 46 in their normal positions and bring the entire assembly 41 to my device to place the bearing 45 within the counterbore of the collar 19 or collar 18 as the diameter of the outer race of the bearing 45 permits. The ring 19 is only provided to take care of the larger sizes of bearings so that the greater range of sizes of bearings will permit the bearing to come within the collar 18. With the assembly supported by hand to have the bearing 45 within the bore of the ring 19 as above indicated, the tail standard'20 is shifted along the tube 12 from the bracket 11 to bring the conical bore through the collars 29 and 28 A tail standard 20 has its lower end slidably' up over the bearing 46. The axes of the conical bores in the collars l8, 19, 28, 29 are exactly at the same elevation and in a common plane.

vThe outer edges of the outer races of the bearings 45 and 46 will form a line contact with the conical counterbores in the respective collars and thus locate and retain the bearings in vertical positions perpendicular to the axes through the conical bores. The tail standard 2% is carried toward the differential assembly sufficiently to insure the bearings 45 and '46 being roughly collars. The differential assembly 41 is then free to be revolved about its normal axis of.

rotation on the supporting bearings 45 and '46, the axis being exactly parallel to the axis of the 'tube. 12.

'In order to revolve the assembly 41 by means of the motor 16, I provide a unique interconnecting driving connection which I shall now describe. The shaft 1'7 which extends into the bore 15 and is .revolved at a relatively low speed .by the-motor 16, is providedwith a pin 50 extending transversely therethrough toward its outer end to have'an end extend somewhat beyo'nd each side of the shaft." I forma sleeve 51, here shown as having an outer hexagonal sur 1 face-to slide freely longitudinally over the shaft 17. The sleeve 51 is slotted'on opposite sides so as to straddle the pin 50. The other end of the sleeve 51 screwthreadedly receives therein the 'screw 52 which carries first alocknut 53 screwthreadedly thereon then a Washer '54, a length of compressible rubber 55 and an outer head 56. This rubber 55 has an outer cylindrical surface of a diameter which will permit it to be inserted within the central opening in the end of the trunnion 43'lwith a sliding fit so that by turning the sleeve 51 and the nut 54 about the screw 52, the rubber will be compressed between the washer 54 and the head 56 to cause therubber 55 to swell out'into compressive contact with the innerside of the trunnion 43. and thereby -grip it whereby the rubber can not be revolved therewithin. v V

The rubber 55 is thus positioned within the end of the trunnion 43 before the assembly 41 is mounted between the heads of the standards 13 and 20 and the sleeve 51 is slipped over the shaft 1'7 when the assembly 41 is brought up to have the bearing 45 entering in the collar 19.

It is thus to be seen that upon revolution of the shaft 17, the sleeve 51 will be revolved therewith and in turn through the pressure 01' the rubber'55 against the wall of the trunnion 43, revolve the entireassembly 41 accordingly." Even though the shaft 17 may not be exactly aligned with the axisof the difierentiahass'embly no trouble is encountered since the drivingiccn- :nection described provides an" elastic universal connection. i

The tool arm 31 ried. Now byhaving the motorlfi in operation, the assembly 41 is revolved to carry the flange 42 around past the tool 38'whereby variations from the true'pl'ane normal to the axis of rotation may be observed andthe face of theflange dz'turned down by the tool 38 to'bringit to the true plane. Of course an indicator. of any-type well known to those versed in the 'artmaybe mounted on the tool holder to give an indication of the amount the flange 42 varies from the true plane. .1

The arm 31' is clamped to the tube l2=by the screw 35 when the tool 38 is approximately in the proper cutting position. .The upper endof the arm31 carriesia. head 39 in. which azslide 37 is carried to be movable'at right angles-to differential. assembly is, slotted transversely across-its. end to .carry. the'tool holder 66 slidably across the slot. 'A plate 67 is attached to the end of the slide to cover over the holder to retain the holderwithin the-slot. A leg 68ex-' tends from'the plate 6.7 to withinthe slot to- Ward the right handendthereof and. rotatably receives Itherethrough. the screw.:69, the outer end of which is fixed in the head'll).

The screw 69 has a collar abutting the inner face of the leg 68 and-extends alongthe slot in. the. 1 slide and screwthreadedly engages with the holder 6'? whereby suitable rotationof the head 70'will advance or retractthe holder the slot. -The outer end of the holder is bored through at an angle 'to provide ahole into which the tool 138' may be inserted and held in the proper cutting position. Thus by turning 'theheadflo, the tool 38 is properly adjusted for depth of cut and by turning thehandlel), the

-tool. 38 is fed across the'face of the flange42; a

in-avery simple, effective manner.'

It is thus to be seenthat withthestructure I have herein described the differential assembly maybe rotatablysupported without having to remove the supporting bearings from the assembly and Without having to adjust chucks or the like in arr-attempt to center the assembly to have it revolve on its true axis," and in the same device that I have provided means for detecting and correcting any variation found. :It is obvious that after the ring gear has been assembled and fixed in place on the flange 42,

theassemblywith'this gear may be'retur ned to my device and the gearitself checked to determine whether or not any variation from the true plane has been occasioned While the gear was being'riveted to theflangeL 5 is then shifted longitudinally and rotatably on the tube 12 -to bring" the tool' 38 up'adjacent the side of the flange magma which the ring gear (not shown) isto' becar-,

- Whiled have here shownand described my inventionin the one form as now best known to me,-it is obvious that structural changes may be made without departing from the spiritof the invention' and I therefore do" not desire to be limitedto that precise form beyond the limitations as-may be imposed by the following claims. I'claim: 'j l iiF'or indicating 'and-correcting'a ring gear attaching flange on a differential assembly'having. bearings mounted on hollow. trunnions,ta head standard", a tail standard, one of said standards being'movable'linearly in respect to the other, and a differential assembly bearing receiving cup on each of said standards, each cup having outwardly flaring internal walls conically disposed opposing each other about a common axis, a-driving-member inserted within one "of saidftr'unnions, an expansible member between the trunnionand driving member and means for expanding said expansible member. -2.-Forindicating and correctinga ring gear attaching flange on a diflerential assembly having bearings mounted on hollow trunnions, a

head standard, a tail standard, one of said standards'being movable linearly in'respect to the other, and a differential assembly bearing receiving cup on 'each' of said standards, each cup having outwardly flaring internal walls comically disposed opposing each other about a common axis a driving. member inserted within one of said trunnions, anexpansible"member between-the trunnionand driving member and means'for expandingsaid expansible member, a member interconnecting said standards along which said one standard maybe shifted, and-a tool holder'arm" carried by said'member to be shi'ftable 'therealong and rocked-'thereabout.

3."-For"indicatingand correcting .aring gear attaching flang on' a differential assemb1y,a head standard, a-ta'il standard, one of said stand-- ards .beingmovable linearlyin respect to the other, and a differential assembly bearing 're- 'eeiv'ing cup on' each of said standards, eaoh'cup having outwardly flaring internal walls conically disposed opposing each. other about a common axis, one'of said cups having a bore extending -'axially therefrom, a drive shaft accessible through said bore, a sleeve adapted to be inserted through said bore to engage said shaft in driving relation, and' a laterally expansile and retractile member carried by the sleeve adapted to be entered into said assembly as driving member. v {4. For indicating and correcting a ring gear attaching flange on a differential assembly hay-- "ing anti-friction bearings carried on" hollow trunnions, a head standarcLa tailstandard, a

horizontallydisposed member carrying said standards, a head on each standard havingan outwardly fiaring conical bore directed toward the otherbore, said bores being on a-common axis, said headstandard being fixed to said shaft,"fand 'ayielding member connected with "said sleeve, said yielding member being formed to enterfone of said 'trunnions' to engage the irmer wall thereof; said bores being adapted to receive and support said bearings therein, and a tool arm mounted on said standard carrying I member to be shiftable therealong and rockably inserted within one of said trunnions, means for expanding said rubber, and a tool holder adjustably supported to be shiftable both parallel and normal to said axis. v

6. In a device for indicating and correcting a ring gear attaching flange on a differential assembly having bearings mounted on hollow trunnions, a pair of standards, recesses in the standards adapted to receive and locate said bearings whereby the assembly may revolve about its true axis of rotation, a driving member adapted to be inserted within one of said trunnions, means for expanding said member, and a tool holder adjustably supported to beshiftable both parallel and normal to said axis, a motor carried by one of the standards,and a shaft driven by the motor slidably engaging with said assembly therebetween, a driving member in serted within one of said, trunnions, an expansible member between the trunnions and driving member and means for expanding said expansible member.

8. In a device for indicating and correcting a ring gear mounting flange on a difierential assembly having bearings with outer revoluble races and mounted on hollow trunnions, a pair of standards having conical recesses into which said outer races may be entered and be automatically centered by moving one standard toward the other to carry said races against the walls of the recesses and rotatably mount said assembly therebetween, a driving member inserted within one of said trunnions, an expan sible member between the trunnions and driving member and means for expanding said expansible member, and means for engaging said assembly through one of said trunnions by which the assembly maybe revolved upon said races, comprising a driving member inserted within one of said trunnions, an expansible member between the trunnion and driving member and means for expanding the expansible member.

9. In a device for indicating and correcting a ring gear mounting flange on a differential assembly having bearings with outer revoluble races and mounted on hollow trunnions,.a pair of standards having conical recesses into which ,assembly therebetWeen a driving member inserted within one of said trunnions, an expansible member between the trunnions and driving member and means for expanding saidexpansible member, and means for engaging said assembly through one of said trunnions by which the. assembly may be revolved uponsaid races, comprising a driving member inserted within one of said trunnions, anexpansible member between the trunnion anddriving member and means for expanding the expansible member, a longitudinal member on which said standards are supported, said longitudinal member being parallellto the common axis-of said conical re- ;cesses, and a tool member carried on said longitudinal member to be shiftable therealong.

10. A device of the nature described embodying in combination, a cylindrical member horizontal- -ly supported, a head standard fixed to the member in an upright position at one end thereof, a tail standard having a foot slidingly engaging about the member, key means cooperating'between the member and the tail standard retaining the standard in a vertical upright position whereby the standard may be shifted along the member without rocking from'said upright position, a tool arm having a foot slidinglyfitting about said member to permit the arm to be shifted therealong and therearound, a clamp for securing the arm in fixed positions on the member, a head on each of the standards carry- .ing an opposing outwardly flaring conical bore,

a driving shaft, an expandable driving member, and an extension therefrom'adapted tobe passed through one of said conical bores and ,driven by the shaft.

11. For correcting a ring gear attaching flange 'on a difierential assembly, a head standard, a

tail standard, a supporting member holding the standards, means for'rotating the assembly under relative conditions resulting frompreried by the arm, an axial screw engaging the slide to be revolved as a' means for advancing or retracting the slide, a tool holder slidably oarried across an end of the slide,-and an axial screw engaging the holder to be revolved as a means for advancing and retracting the holder transversely of the travel of the slide.

12. For correcting a ring-gear attaching flange on a' diflerential assembly, a head standard, a tail standard, a supporting member holding the standards, a tool arm carried by the supporting member to be shiftable therealong, a slide carried by the arm, an axial screw engaging the slide to be revolved as a means for advancing or retracting the slide, a tool holder slidably carried'across an end of the slide, and an axial screw engaging the holder to be revolved as a means for advancing and retracting the holder transversely of the travel of the slide, said tool arm being rockably carried by said supporting member, and means for clamping the arrnin selected positions longitudinally and rotatably about the member.

13. For indicating and correcting a ring-gear attaching flange on a differential assembly rotated'on hollow trunnions, a head'standard, a. tail standard, one .of said standards being movable linearly -in respect to the other, and a difierential assembly bearing receiving cup on each of said standards, each cup having outwardly flaring internal walls conically disposed opposing each other about a common axis, one of said cups being adapted to be advanced and retracted toward and away from the other cup independently of the movement of. its supporting standard, a motor, and universallyadjustable means for connecting the motor with the interior of a hollow trunnion.

of standards having conical recesses into which said outer races may be entered and be auto matically centered by moving one st'andardtoward the other to carry said races against the wallsof the recesses and rotatably mount said assembly therebetween, a collar carried by one of the standards having one of saidconical recesses thereingand means for advancing or retracting said collar independently of movement of the standards, a motor, and universally ad-, justable means for connecting the motor with the interior of a-hollow trunnion. V

' CHARLES W. YOUNT. 

